Melvin Ingram learning a rookie lesson

His athleticism and physicality, his high motor, have already made the Chargers rookie a valuable part of the team's outside linebacker rotation.

There is an early lesson, though, to learn.

On Sunday night, the first-round pick lowered the crown of his helmet before striking quarterback Drew Brees, nullifying an interception linebacker Demorrio Williams returned for a touchdown. The Saints scored later that drive, turning a 31-14 would-be contest to 24-21.

In the season opener, he hit Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer on a fourth-down incomplete pass. The Raiders scored a touchdown two plays later.

"We’re going to fix that issue," Turner said. "It’s coaching and it’s technique. It’s him understanding the way the games are officiated. There’s no question that we addressed it after the Raider game, and it’s something that we’re going to have to deal with. ... You look at the great pass-rushers in this league and they’ve all learned how to handle it. We’ve got to get Melvin to do the same thing.”

Ingram has hurried the quarterback 10 times this season, second on the team behind outside linebacker Shaun Phillips, who has 11 hurries.